Ganduje Recognises Sanusi As Emir At Kano Deputy Governor’s Swearing-In

A significant development in Kano’s political and traditional landscape unfolded on Tuesday as former governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, publicly recognised Muhammad Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and Chairman of the Kano State Council of Emirs.

The acknowledgment came during the swearing-in ceremony of the new deputy governor, Murtala Sule Garo, held at the Government House, Kano, and attended by top government officials, political stakeholders and traditional rulers.

In his goodwill message, Ganduje addressed Sanusi by his full royal title, drawing immediate reaction from the audience. The gesture was met with prolonged applause, signalling what observers described as a notable shift in the relationship between the former governor and the reinstated monarch.

The development is considered politically significant, given the history between the two figures. In 2020, during his administration, Ganduje dethroned Sanusi as Emir of Kano, a move that generated widespread controversy and legal disputes within and outside the state.

Following the emergence of Governor Abba Yusuf, Sanusi was reinstated as the 16th Emir of Kano, restoring his position as head of the Kano Emirate Council.

Tuesday’s public recognition by Ganduje is widely interpreted as a symbolic gesture that may signal easing tensions and a possible realignment within Kano’s political and traditional institutions.

Sanusi’s removal in 2020 had led to the appointment of Aminu Ado Bayero, son of the late Emir Abdullahi Ado Bayero, further deepening divisions within the emirate.

Political analysts say Ganduje’s latest stance could influence ongoing discourse surrounding the emirate’s leadership structure and broader governance dynamics in the state.

The event, primarily marked the inauguration of Garo as deputy governor of the state.